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\nActress Sarah Jessica Parker reflected on her early memories of reading during an event with 92NY in New York on Sept. 29Parker looked back on how her mother, Barbra Forste, always had a book with her, and how she and her siblings spent time in their local public libraryThe actress and publisher was in conversation with author Victoria Redel and edtior Adam Ross<\/p>\n
Sarah Jessica Parker<\/a> is looking back on how books have shaped her life.<\/p>\n During a Sept. 29 92NY<\/a> event with author Victoria Redel (whose novel I am You<\/a> is published under Parker\u2019s book imprint SJP Lit) and editor Adam Moss at Kaye Playhouse in New York City, the And Just Like That… actress, 60, discussed how her mother, Barbra Forste, fostered an early love of reading.<\/p>\n Parker said her mom was an avid reader throughout Parker’s childhood, and would even pick up books in the car at stoplights.<\/p>\n \u201cShe read everything, from the time she was a little girl,” Parker said. “She went to a very good high school in Cincinnati, Ohio, and she somehow talked the librarians in her public school library, as well as our community library, into holding onto The New Yorker and The Sunday Times for her.\u201d\n<\/p>\n Sarah Jessica Parker at a 92NY event in New York City on Sept. 29.<\/p>\n Michael Priest Photography | @MichaelPriestPhotography<\/a><\/p>\n Parker, who is one of eight children<\/a>, also looked back on how there were never any children’s books in her house growing up, leading them to find reading material elsewhere.<\/p>\n \u201cWe were at our local public library all the time. That’s our only way of having books,\u201d she said. \u201cWe didn’t buy books, we didn’t own books that were for our age. My parents owned books \u2026 We read just every great classic children’s book.\u201d\n<\/p>\n Parker\u2019s love of books has since expanded into her own publishing imprint, SJP Lit, which launched as part of Zando in 2022. The imprint publishes fiction like Redel\u2019s novel, a historical romance set in 1600s Netherlands.\n<\/p>\n The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now!<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cWe try to find books that we’re really excited about, that really wow us immediately,\u201d Parker said. \u201cWe hope we get the chance to publish them and either introduce a writer to readers or introduce a writer who’s debuting as a writer \u2026 every time a writer says yes, it’s a very big deal to us.\u201d<\/p>\n Parker is also a judge for this year’s prestigious Booker Prize<\/a>. She spoke about how she was an avid follower of the literary awards for years, and has since read over 150 books for Booker consideration since she took on the role in 2024.\n<\/p>\n Adam Moss, Victoria Redel (center) and Sarah Jessica Parker at a 92NY event in New York City on Sept. 29.<\/p>\n